Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Surfers Paradise?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Surfers Paradise vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise or Katoomba, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Surfers Paradise or Katoomba?
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurfers Paradise $106Katoomba $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Surfers Paradise is $106, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $137. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Surfers Paradise and Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurfers Paradise $67Katoomba $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurfers Paradise $134Katoomba $158
Compare Hotels in Surfers Paradise and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise or Katoomba? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surfers Paradise $11Katoomba $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Shared Transfer to Byron Bay: $30
- Gold Coast: Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $33
- Private Brisbane Airport Departure Transfer From Gold Coast: $177
Is it cheaper to fly into Surfers Paradise or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba and Surfers Paradise change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySurfers Paradise $27Katoomba $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak and Dinner: $40
- Dinner Buffet Cruise on the Gold Coast: $70
- Gold Coast: Spirits of the Red Sand Aboriginal Show & Dinner: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surfers Paradise $24Katoomba $54
Typical Entertainment prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$79
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Green Cabs Surfers Paradise Tours: $16
- Gold Coast Morning Tea Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $18
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $20
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $21
- Gold Coast Sightseeing Cruise: $23
- Infinity Attraction in Queensland Admission Ticket: $23
- Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $25
- Gold Coast: Aquaduck City Tour and River Cruise: $29
- Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $32
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $32
- Stand Up Paddle Board Tour: $36
- Private Stand Up Paddle Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Amazing Full Day Abseiling Adventure in the Blue Mountains: $198
- Bathurst Wine Trail Full-Day Private Tour with Tastings: $371
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $111
- Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and Bilpin Tour from Katoomba with Cider Tasting: $167
- Blue Mountains Explorer Bus: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $35
- Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides: $43
- Blue Mountains Secret Places Adventure: $118
- Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillac Tour with Local Guide: $502
- Blue Mountains: 4WD Adventure Tour with Local Guide: $195
- Blue Mountains: Private Scenic Tour with Optional Stops: $184
- From Sydney: Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour Picnic & Hike: $181
- Full-Day Canyoning Experience at Stunning Empress Canyon: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurfers Paradise $11Katoomba -
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
- Private Half Day Wine Tour from Gold Coast to Tamborine Mountain: $119
- Hipster Sipster Brewery and Distillery Tour: $154
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surfers Paradise and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Surfers Paradise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surfers Paradise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surfers Paradise and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba than you might in Surfers Paradise.
When is the best time to visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Katoomba.
In the summer, Surfers Paradise is around the same temperature as Katoomba. Typically, the summer temperatures in Surfers Paradise in January are around 25°C (77°F), and Katoomba is about 24°C (74°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. In the summer, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Katoomba. Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in January than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuarySurfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)Katoomba 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba in the Autumn?
Both Katoomba and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Katoomba. Temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 22°C (71°F), and Katoomba stays around 18°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise usually receives more sunshine than Katoomba during autumn. Surfers Paradise gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. In April, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilSurfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)Katoomba 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba in the Winter?
Both Katoomba and Surfers Paradise during the winter are popular places to visit.
Surfers Paradise is a little warmer than Katoomba in the winter. The temperature in Surfers Paradise is usually 15°C (59°F) in July, and Katoomba stays around 11°C (51°F).
In Katoomba, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. In the winter, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in July than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulySurfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)Katoomba 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Katoomba in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Katoomba.
In the spring, Surfers Paradise is a little warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the spring temperatures in Surfers Paradise in October are around 21°C (69°F), and Katoomba is about 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. Surfers Paradise usually receives more sunshine than Katoomba during spring. Surfers Paradise gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Katoomba. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberSurfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)Katoomba 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Katoomba and Surfers Paradise
| Surfers Paradise | Katoomba | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
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